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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
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South University Village entails a parking structure, retail space and 128 rental units,
which are aimed at the educated middle class returning to the city.
WSU joins city's rebirth
School plans $34M Detroit housing, retail development
Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- Another major player is
joining the rush to turn Midtown Detroit's
blighted lots into upscale housing and retail:
Wayne State University.
In Wayne State's first public-private real
estate venture, the university and Grand
Rapids-based developer Prime Development
announced Tuesday plans for a $34 million
development that will include 128 "loft-like"
rental units, new retail and a parking structure
on Woodward north of The Whitney
restaurant.
Longtime Detroit residents remember the
site as the spot where the Vernor's ginger ale
plant once stood.
The lofts aren't aimed at students but rather
at a growing educated, middle-class
population returning to the city core.
The development will be called South
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University Village. A groundbreaking is
planned for the spring, according to Wayne
State officials.
"This project is symbolic of the
revolutionary transformation of Wayne State
University in the New Center Area," said
See full image
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in a written
statement provided by Wayne State.
The public-private partnership was also
hailed by James Epolito, president and CEO
of the Michigan Economic Development
Corp. On Tuesday, a branch of that agency,
the Michigan Economic Growth Authority,
approved $9.4 million in state and local tax
credits for the project. The agency also
approved seven other brownfield projects in
Detroit Tuesday. These blighted spots are
expected to attract $839 million in private
investment for redevelopment.
"This is a first for us, but we don't intend it
to be the last public-private partnership that
contributes to the substantive rehabilitation of
the Woodward corridor," said Wayne State
President Irvin Reid. "This has been our
philosophy that dates back many years and we
intend to bring much needed services and
housing to the area."
The first commercial tenant already has
signed to lease a 9,400-square-foot space, but
officials declined to identify the business.
Reid said a bank is being pursued as a tenant.
However, the project isn't big enough to
attract a full-service grocery store.
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The developer will finance and develop
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South University Village and has formed
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Studio One LLC to operate the development.
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Wayne State owns the land and will lease it to
Studio One for 99 years, explained John
Davis, WSU vice president of finance and
facilities management.
The housing and retail will be in a five-story building on the west side of Woodward. WSU
will finance and build the parking deck, which may include up to 800 spaces, on the south side
of Forest between Woodward and Cass. The parking deck and apartment building will be
connected.
The apartments may rent between $890 to $1,100 a month, Davis said.
If the project is successful, Wayne State hopes to build another $20 million five-story
housing facility that may sell as condominiums. They would be located next to the project.
WSU is looking into former partnerships with other developers to build some of its other
properties, Reid said, but no deals on any other specific properties have been formalized.
In 2004, WSU began negotiating to develop and sell four properties on the south edge of its
campus, including what now is South University Village. Another is the warehouse at 55 W.
Canfield that has been converted into lofts. The others are a single-story building at 455-488
W. Canfield attached to the Traffic Jam & Snug restaurant and the former Detroit Public
Schools warehouse at 441-448 W. Willis.
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The Midtown area encompasses several neighborhoods, including the Cultural Center, Cass
Corridor and Brush Park. Gentrification in Midtown has been revving up: Nearly $1.5 billion
in new residential and commercial construction has been announced since 2000, according to a
recent study by the University Cultural Center Association, which works to attract
development to the area. More than 3,000 new residents have moved to the area since 2000.
You can reach Louis Aguilar at (313) 222-2760 or laguilar@detnews.com.
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